Music from a Thankful Heart, pt.2

21Nov

Psalms 100:1-5 <A Psalm of praise.> Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

During this Thanksgiving Season we are using the one hundredth Psalm to look at some biblical aspects of Thankfulness. In part one of this devotion we looked at The Commands of the Thanksgiving found in verses one and two; in this devotion I want to focus on The Confidence, Consequence and Consolation of a Thankful Heart.

1. The Confidence of a Thankful Heart: vs. 3

Verse three gives us two things we can “Know” or have confidence in:

First, The LORD is God. The word “LORD” here is the word Jehovah meaning the self existent God; he who lives without the aid of anyone but himself. The word “God” is the word el-o-heem’ which is the same word used in Genesis to describe the Triune God that Created the Universe and all therein. The Psalmist is thankful for the power and ability of his God; that he is in control and driving the ship. But when you put this sentence together with the rest of the verse, the Psalmist is thankful for the second Confidence:

Second, The LORD God made me and keeps me. Praise the Almighty that my shepherd and creator is the same powerful, self-existent one that created the world and will live forever. We can be confident in the ability and sustaining power of our God. In this confidence we rest and offer thanksgiving and praise. You can rest assured that as a sheep in His pasture we will be properly cared for and protected from all harm, forever!

2. The Consequence of a Thankful Heart: vs. 4

Here we see things that happen when a person is thankful. This verse instructs the people of God to enter his gates and how to enter. The phrase “Enter his gates” refers to the gates that lead to his temple or into his presence. God wants his people to go to church and to go with a happy and joyous spirit. Don’t be the saint that comes dragging into God’s house at church time; come before his presence with praise and singing. Be glad and appreciative for the opportunity to go to church. To the thankful heart, church is an opportunity not an obligation! Entering God’s presence also refers to spending time with him. When we set aside time to pray and meditate on his word, we are entering his presence. Spend some time just talking to God and thinking on his precious word, I assure you it will be most rewarding.

3. The Consolation of a Thankful Heart: vs. 5

Here are several things we can be happy about.

First, we see that “The LORD is good.” We can be assured that whatever God does and whatever we receive of him will be good and for our good. His nature is good, therefore he does not know how to do or give anything but good to his people.

Second, we see that “His mercy is everlasting.” When we see someone commit a crime or when someone wrongs us, we are quick to pass condemnation on them. We long to see them “get what’s coming to them”, but with God it’s not that way. God has a mercy that extends to all men in all conditions. God’s ability to love and forgive will never run out. There will never come a time in your life where God will not willingly and lovingly extend his mercy to you when you need it. I say the everlasting mercy of God is something really worth being thankful for.

Last, “His truth endureth to all generations.” That is, every word and promise of God, every mercy, grace and expression of love, will be ready and available to every generation of people upon the earth until the end of time. If you are breathing, you have these promises available to you. When we read the words of God concerning the Bible characters of old, we watch in awe as God performs some amazing miracles in their lives. But listen child of God, the same word is preserved for you in your generation; God’s power is not diminished and his willingness to help has not waivered one ounce. All that He was for them He will be for you.